Miniature rose plant &#39;JENeight&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new miniature rose plant which has abundant, long lasting, white colored flowers and attractive glossy foliage. The variety successfully propagates from softwood cuttings and is suitable for year round production in commercial glass houses as a flowering pot plant. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

LATIN NAME OF GENUS AND SPECIES

Rosa hybrida ‘JENeight’.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The new variety is named ‘JENeight’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention constitutes a new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant, which was developed by artificially pollinating an unnamed seedling (not patented in the US) with an unnamed seedling (not patented in the US). The two parents were crossed during the summer of 2001, and the resulting seed was sown in December 2001, in a controlled glasshouse environment. Out of the resulting seedlings one seedling was selected, as a distinct new variety and was named ‘JENeight’.

The variety can be distinguished from its seed parent, an unnamed seedling, by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   ‘JENeight’ has small double flowers, while the unnamed seed         parent has medium sized single flowers.     -   ‘JENeight’ has white colored petals, while the unnamed seed         parent has pink petals.

The new variety may distinguished from its pollen parent, an unnamed seedling created by the same inventor, by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   ‘JENeight’ has smaller flowers and foliage as compared to the         unnamed pollen parent.     -   ‘JENeight’ has white colored petals, while the unnamed pollen         parent has pale pink petals.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Initial asexual reproduction of ‘JENeight’ by cuttings was first carried out by the inventor in Christiansfeld, Denmark. The reproduction was conducted under controlled greenhouse conditions. Having demonstrated asexual reproduction it was found that all characteristics and distinctions came true to form and were established in succeeding propagations. ‘JENeight’ is a low and compact miniature rose with medium vigor. Tests show that the shelf life for the entire plant and a single flush of flowers is medium as compared to similar varieties.

The objective of the hybridization of this rose variety for commercial greenhouse culture was to create a new and distinct variety with:

-   -   Uniform and abundant flowers with good keeping properties;     -   Attractive long lasting foliage with red edges on young foliage         and overall compact growth;     -   Year round flowering under glasshouse conditions;     -   Suitability for production from softwood cuttings in pots.;     -   Durable flowers and foliage which make the variety suitable for         distribution in the floral industry.         This combination of qualities was not present in previously         available commercial cultivars of this type and distinguish         ‘JENeight’ from all other varieties of which we are aware. The         seeds from hybridization were planted in a controlled         environment and evaluations were conducted on the resulting         plants. ‘JENeight’ was selected by Svend Jensen, in his         development program in Christiansfeld, Denmark

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color illustrations show as true as is reasonable to obtain in color photographs of this type, the typical characteristics of the buds, flowers, leaves, stems of ‘JENeight’. Specifically illustrated in:

Photo Sheet 1:

FIG. 1: Young shoot.

FIG. 2: Bud before opening of the sepals.

FIG. 3: Bud at the stage of opening of the sepals.

FIG. 4: Bud at the stage of opening the petals.

FIG. 5: Flower during course of opening.

FIG. 6: Open flower—plan view—obverse.

FIG. 7: Open flower—plan view—reverse.

FIG. 8: Fully open flower—plan view—obverse.

FIG. 9: Fully open flower—plan view—reverse.

Photo Sheet 2:

FIG. 10: Receptacle showing stamens and pistils.

FIG. 11: Receptacle showing pistils (stamens and sepals removed).

FIG. 12: Flower petals, detached—inner surface.

FIG. 13: Flower petals, detached—outer surface.

FIG. 14: Bare stem exhibiting thorns and flower attachment.

FIG. 15: Three leaflets upper side.

FIG. 16: Three leaflets reverse side.

FIG. 17: Five leaflets upper side.

FIG. 18: Five leaflets reverse side.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the Miniature Rose: Rosa hybrida ‘JENeight’.

The following observations, measurements, values and comparisons describe plants grown in glass houses in Christiansfeld, Denmark. The age of the observed plants where 11 to 13 weeks after propagation by cuttings, and growth as a flowering pot plant in container of 10 centimeters diameter.

Color references are made using The Royal Horticultural Society (London, England) Colour Chart, 1995, except where common terms of color are used.

For a comparison, the nearest existing rose variety is ‘Poulgo001’, a rose variety described and illustrated in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,453

Chart 1 details several physical characteristics of ‘JENeight’ and ‘Poulgo001’. Chart 1: ‘JENeight’ ‘Poulgo001’ Petal color, Upper White Group White Group surface 155D 155C Petal color, Reverse White Group White Group surface 155D 155C Petal count 25-30 60-65

-   Parents:     -   -   Seed parent.—Unnamed seedling.         -   Pollen parent.—Unnamed seedling. -   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Rosa hybrida.         -   Commercial.—Miniature. -   Plant:     -   -   Plant growth.—Moderately vigorous. Grows compact upright to             bushy. When grown as 10 cm pot plant, the average height of             the plant itself is 18 to 20 cm, and average width is 20 cm.             When grown as a 15 cm pot plant, the average height of the             plant itself is 22 to 27 cm, and average width is 30 cm.             Production time is generally 11 to 13 weeks depending on             average temperature, light level, and cultural practices. -   Stem:     -   -   Color.—Young wood: Yellow-Green Group 148A. Older wood:             Yellow-Green Group 148B.         -   Thorns.—Incidence: high number of thorns per stem. Size:             2-3 mm. Color: White Group 155A Shape: Deep concave.         -   Surface.—Young wood: Smooth Older wood: Smooth.         -   Stem.—Diameter: 2-3 mm Internode length: 20-30 mm         -   Numbers of internodes.—5-6. -   Plant foliage: Leaves arranged alternately, compound with 3 to 5     leaflets per leaf, generally symmetrical, abundant, and flat in     aspect. Stipules at petiole base.     -   -   Quantity of leaves.—5-6 per lateral branch.         -   Leaf size.—Medium 60-65 mm (l). by 40-50 mm (w), for five             leaflets.         -   Petioles.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 148A. Margins: entire             Length: 10-20 mm Diameter: about 1-2 mm.         -   Stipules.—Size: 4-5 mm Surface: Smooth Color: Yellow-Green             Group 148C, Margins: Entire.         -   Rachis.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 148A. Margins: Entire.             Length: 8 to 10 mm Diameter: 0.5-1 mm.         -   Leaflets.—Edge: Serrated Serration: Single Shape: Ovate with             acute apex and obtuse base. Texture: Smooth. Appearance:             Dull. Size: length: 30 to 65 mm. Width: 30 to 55 mm.         -   Color: young foliage.—Upper surface: Yellow-Green Group 148A             Lower surface: Greyed-Green Group 198A.         -   Color: mature foliage.—Upper surface: Yellow-Green Group             148A. Lower surface: Greyed-Green Group 198A. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit.—Recurrent.         -   Number of flowers.—Generally 3-5 buds per flowering stem.         -   Peduncle.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 148B. Texture: Smooth,             Length: 10-15 mm Orientation: Upright.         -   Receptacle.—Surface: Smooth, glabrous. Shape: Cup-shaped             Size: 6-7 mm (h) by 7-9 mm (w) Color: Yellow-Green Group             148B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity: 5 Shape: Narrowly Ovate with acute tip             Texture: Leathery Margin: Foliaceous appendages on 2 of the             five sepals Appearance: Dull Color: Upper surface:             Yellow-Green Group 148A, Reverse surface: Greyed-Green Group             191D, Size: 125 mm (l), by 7 mm (w).         -   Buds.—Size: 18-20 mm (h) by 10-12 mm (w) upon opening.             Shape: Cupped Color: at ¼ open, White Group 155D.         -   Flower.—Duration. As a pot plant, flowers last from 11 to 15             days. Fragrance. None. Size: 50-55 mm in diameter. Form:             (Shape of flower when viewed from the side). Up on opening:             Cupped Open flower: Cupped.         -   Color.—Petals, upon opening Upper surface: White Group 155D,             Reverse surface: White Group 155D, Petals after opening:             Upper surface: White Group 155D, Reverse surface: White             Group 155D. Basal Petals spots: Size: 1-2 mm Color:             Yello-White Group 158B. General tonality: On Open flower:             Third day: White Group 155D, Afterwards: White Group 155D.         -   Petals.—Petal reflex. Outermost petals reflex backwards at             opening Fully open all petals reflex backwards. Texture:             Smooth. Petal edge: Entire. Petal count. Approximately 25 on             the average per flower. Petal size: 20-25 mm (l) by 20-25 mm             (w). Shape: Outer petals: Round Inner petals: Ovate Apex:             Orbicular, Base: Obtuse to rotundate.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamen number: Approximately 50 on             average per flower Pollen. Color: Yellow-Orange Group 20D.             Pollen Abundance: Average. Anther Size: 1-2 mm. Anther             Color: Greyed Orange Group 170C. Anther Shape: Oblong.             Filament Size: 4-5 mm. Filament Color: Green-White Group             157B. Pistils number: Approximately 30 on average per             flower. Stigma Location: Inferior in location relative             anthers Stigma Color: Green-White Group 157D Style Color:             Greyed-Purple Group 186D. Style Length: 2 to 3 mm. -   Development:     -   -   Vegetation.—Dense.         -   Blooming.—Abundant.         -   Fruit set.—Poor.         -   Disease resistance.—Above average resistance to mildew and             Botrytis under normal growing conditions in Christiansfeld,             Denmark.         -   Hips/seeds.—Fruits have not been observed because the plant             has never been grown to the stage of seed development             because the variety is developed for use as a flowering pot             plant only. Winter hardiness & Drought/heat tolerance have             not been evaluated because the variety is a potted flowering             plant, developed for a one time use only. 

1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the miniature class, substantially as herein illustrated and described as a distinct and novel rose variety due to its abundant, long lasting, white colored flowers, attractive long lasting glossy foliage, vigorous and compact growth, year round flowering under glasshouse conditions, suitability for production from softwood cuttings in pots, and durable flowers and foliage which make the variety suitable for distribution in the floral industry. 